Indian women bargaining with patriarchy

On 8th March, International Women’s Day, the parliament of the Government of India introduced a historic piece of legislation that seeks to set aside one third of seats in the Lok Shabha. Read details

Indus Floods 2010

Something as simple and as small as the fluttering of the wings of a butterfly might set off a tornado in another, far away, place. Read detials

Mamata’s khamota or backlash of the bhadraloks

In 1990 after Lalu Prasad Yadav, the lower caste charismatic political leader of Bihar, became the Chief Minister of the state, the young, English-speaking, sauve jounalists flocked from metropolitan cities like New Delhi and Bomaby to catch his sound bites on tap and camera. Read details

The Delhi Gang Rape

I still remember, in early 1990s, a largish, unknown man just flopped on my lap on the aisle seat. When I mildly expressed displeasure.

Development workers behaving badly

Now that the waves of reactions and counter-reactions have subsided, I ask if it is possible to rethink the infamous ‘Oxfam incident’. To put it briefly, the charity’s high-level professionals have been reported to have indulged in partying with sex workers in earthquake-affected Haiti, where prostitution is legally prohibited.

Black dust and bicycles

Rural peasants once reliant on farming and forestry for their livelihood are turning to bicycles and India’s massive coal industry to survive.